Subvert the Dominant Paradigm

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The End is Near! Deal with It!

This isn’t what I originally planned to write about today, but something came up and this is where my mind went. This year is supposedly the last year of the Mayan calendar that supposedly predicts the end of the world. Apocalyptic literature can be found anywhere, from the comic books to the Bible. A lot of people think we don’t have too much time left, and some crazies are even planning for some kind of worldwide “revolution” that will lead to the end of the world as we know it.

Given that we all die, and given that we all know we are going to die, the end of the world scenario shouldn’t be that big of a deal. We are born, we live, then we die. We go back into the ground, decompose, and fit right back into the natural cycle of existence. For some, the knowledge that we all die is inspiring, and leads these people to live a life that is full of accomplishments, fulfillment and enjoyment. For others, the fear that we all die leads them to worry constantly that they aren’t doing what they SHOULD be doing, or they aren’t do what they NEED to be doing, or they aren’t doing what they WANT to do. These people lead terrible, sad, depressing lives. Rather than enjoy life for what it is, they spend/waste all their time striving to be complete, to be content, to be fulfilled. Rather than ACTING to achieve enjoyment and self-actualization, they continue to dwell on past success or daydream about what the future might bring, never present in the life that is passing them by second after second.

I wonder how it would be possible to convince all those sad, depressed people that life can be more fulfilling and enjoyable than they ever imagined. I wonder how I could communicate to them the beauty and richness of being PRESENT in their relationships, in their occupation, in their own life. I wonder how I would tell them they can wake up from the delusions they have been fed by advertising, television, the internet and engage in any number of actions that will test who they are as a person, really test their core beliefs and attitudes. I wonder if there is any example I could show them to convince them it is possible to step out of their comfort zone into something better that will change the way they think, the way they speak, and the way they act. I wonder how I would do that…

Maybe I would tell them to start with just being quiet for a while. Maybe I would tell them to begin speaking and acting with positive intention. Maybe I would tell them to quit the jobs they hate and do what they love, even if it made them poor. Maybe I would tell them write more, to read more, to listen more. Maybe I would tell them to play music. Maybe I would tell them to take a walk in the forest and breathe deeply. Maybe I would tell them to use their hands more, and drive their cars less. Maybe I would tell them to EAT FOOD. NOT TOO MUCH. MOSTLY VEGETABLES. Maybe I would tell them to stop smoking cigarettes and drinking too much cheap alcohol. Maybe I would tell them to stretch more, to drink more water, to sweat more, simply to move more. Maybe I would tell them to use their nice words and honestly treat other people the way they would like to be treated. Maybe I would just let them rot in their own apathy and not say anything at all.